---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Justin Alexander (Avaaz) <jus
...@avaaz.org>
Date: Oct 19, 2007 3:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Bloggers Collective] Re: Burma Protest in Mumbai for Freedom
of Expression/Speech
To: Ange Embuldeniya <angelo.embulden
...@gmail.com>, Jvalant Sampat <
jval
...@gmail.com>, Dilip D'Souza <dilip
...@gmail.com>, Dina Mehta <
dina.me
...@gmail.com>, BloggersCollective@googlegroups.com, Nyunt Hla <
burmacampaign_in
...@yahoo.com>, Michael <indoburman
...@gmail.com>
Cc: Chantal Guevara <chan
...@clara.co.uk>, Johnny Chatterton <
i
...@burmacampaign.org.uk>, Suki Dusanj <suki.dus
...@burmacampaign.org.uk>
Dear Ange, Jvalant and others,
I'm excited to be put in touch with Indian bloggers planning action on
Burma. Also great to discover Indoburmanews.net - a really valuable resource
Michael.
You may have seen Avaaz.org's petition calling on the UN Security Council
<http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/>to take action on Burma which has
grown to nearly 800,000 people so far and has lead to a newspaper ad
directed at China, and will hopefully be handed to the Security Council next
week. We are now developing campaigns in various countries, so far
including the EU <http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_squeeze_the_junta/> and
Singapore <http://www.avaaz.org/en/time_to_act_singapore/> and have raised
over $200,000 <http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_the_burmese_blackout/1.php?cl=4>to
get equipment like sat-phones to Burmese civil society. Avaaz is a
global
civic advocacy group which uses the internet and media to launch rapid and
high-impact campaigns, working closely with NGOs and experts on the issues
we campaign on.
We'd like to run something in India to help galvanize the many Indians who
we know support the democracy movement in Burma. It's a critical moment with
Gambari's visit next week and the imminent signing of the 4bn Rupee
investment deal on Sittwe port and the Kaladan Multimodal Transport Project
using the Kaladan river as a trade corridor from NE india.
The campaign might involve letter writing to Indian officials (similar to
what we're doing with
Singapore<http://www.avaaz.org/en/time_to_act_singapore/>),
newspaper adverts and possibly a letter from Bollywood stars (we are working
on a few contacts). We can also publicise demonstrations etc.
I'm attaching a rough advert concept. Any feedback asap would be great. Also
your ideas on what campaign techniques would be most effective in India - we
want something that "goes viral" and rapidly mobilises hundreds of thousands
of Indians and causes Congress to change its policy on Burma.
in solidarity,
Justin
+44 7813 137171 (London)
On 10/19/07, Ange Embuldeniya <angelo.embulden...@gmail.com > wrote:
> Hi Jvalant et al,
> Thanks for the initial feedback. It would be nice if the other folks on
> the Bloggers Collective mailing list were able to engage in a dialogue and
> exchange ideas regarding the awareness protest in Mumbai. So to make it
> easier, please do join the group's mailing list via the following link:
> http://groups.google.com/group/BloggersCollective
> Secondly, there seems to be a Burmese embassy in Delhi (not in mumbai,
> you're right), i am not sure if this is still around because they didn't
> pick up the phone when i called a couple times, here are their contact
> details:
> Embassy of the Union of Myanmar
> 3/50F, Nyaya Marg
> Chanakyapuri
> New Delhi-110021
> Telphone: +91-11-2688 9007,2688 9008
> Fax: +91-11-2687 7942
> E-mail: myand...@nda.vsnl.net.in
> Have also copied in Michael from the IndoBurma blog where detailed blog
> postings of happenings on the ground are updated constantly, and they have
> published a list of Burmese activists and groups in India. Maybe getting in
> touch with some of them might help in organizing an awareness drive in
> Mumbai: http://www.indoburmanews.net/contacts-in-burma
> I've got in touch with Zaw who's one of the coordinators for Burma
> Campaign India and copied Nyunt Hla who is leading the Burma Awareness
> protest on the 24th of October and will be able to give you more information
> on details of that protest, i am guessing that it's most likely happening in
> New Delhi and not Mumbai, however, please confirm with Zaw/Nyunt via phone -
> (+91 9810 851427).
> Some of the people who will be able to give you more insight and advice on
> how to go about an action plan with pulling together the awareness protest
> in Mumbai, Jvalant are Johnny Chatterton who is the UK coordinator for
> BurmaCampaign and Justin Alexander from Avaaz -- both in the cc list of this
> email..
> Looking forward to all your feedback/thoughts.
> Cheers,
> ange
> On 10/19/07, Jvalant Sampat < jval...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi
> > I should first thank Ange for his response and connections.
> > My contention is that the action needs to have 3 objectives
> > 1. Create awareness in Bombay and to an extent in India about the
> > Myanmar/Burma situation as people here are quite ignorant with the media
> > giving the situation minimal coverage. From the way the media has covered it
> > so far, it might as well be happening in Bolivia.
> > 2. Let our elected representatives know how we feel about their flagrant
> > display of clay feet in this crisis.
> > 3. Show our solidarity with the Burmese people.
> > And I guess all this must be done without portraying ourselves as
> > left-leaning tree-huggers. In fact, I am as capitalist as they get. I just
> > don't want us to capitalize on someone's misery.
> > How do we go about it? I don't have an action plan as such. There
> > doesn't seem to be a Burmese consulate in Bombay. So perhaps the best way
> > forward for the next couple days is to bounce off ideas on how can the
> > protest at least create a blip if not the change we desire.
> > I shall keep adding people to my mailing list as and when they reply.
> > Hopefully, by Sunday we shall have an action plan.
> > Now, I better get back to work.
> > Jvalant
> > On 10/19/07, Ange Embuldeniya <angelo.embulden...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > FYI Jvalant, i'm sure there'll be more folks voicing their support,
> > > some might just want to participate and others organize, how would you like
> > > to get this off the ground Jvalant. Am copying Chantal Guevara in here who
> > > is the main group admin for the burma protest facebook group, just to keep
> > > her in the loop as well.
> > > Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
> > > Cheers,
> > > ange
> > > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > > From: Dina Mehta < dina.me...@gmail.com>
> > > Date: Oct 19, 2007 12:22 PM
> > > Subject: [Bloggers Collective] Re: Burma Protest in Mumbai for Freedom
> > > of Expression/Speech
> > > To: BloggersCollective@googlegroups.com
> > > me too Ange ... keep us posted .. and if there's anything we could do
> > > to get it off the ground .. let us know.
> > > d
> > > On 10/19/07, Dilip D'Souza -- feedback <dilip...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > Ange/Jvalant,
> > > > I'd be willing to join a protest rally or meeting or something.
> > > > Please let me know.
> > > > Mira Kamdar, author of "Planet India", has this that has appeared in
> > > > the Guardian, Sri Lanka's Sunday Times, etc: http://
> > > > myamarnews.blogspot.com/2007/10/comment-silent-india-must-speak-out.html
> > > > Time to show that some of us are concerned about a bit more than
> > > > just
> > > > the ties with the Burmese military and energy issues and the like.
> > > > yours,
> > > > dilip.
> > > > --
> > > > Dilip D'Souza -- feedback: dilip...@gmail.com
> > > > Death Ends Fun: http://dcubed.blogspot.com
> > > > http://mosoci.com/
> > > > +91 98200 39160
> > On 10/19/07, Ange Embuldeniya < angelo.embulden...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Dear All,
> > > When i floated the question last week regarding writing/calling on
> > > RITES - an Indian Government subsidiary and the External Affairs Ministry,
> > > asking them to suspend business ties with the Military Junta in Burma in
> > > terms of their oil exploration and transportation projects, a few of you
> > > wrote back on the collective silence over Burma.
> > > How many of you folks would be interested at the very least, in
> > > organizing/joining in on an awareness protest in Mumbai for Burma? Jvalant
> > > Sampat (copied on this email), in Mumbai raised the following question via
> > > facebook within the group that some of you may have heard of and even joined
> > > -- support the monks' protest in burma (
> > > http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24957770200).
> > > And while the contents, action items and discussion within have
> > > expanded to beyond what the group title might suggest, i thought it might be
> > > helpful to connect Jvalant to the rest of Bloggers Collective in the hope
> > > that some of you might be interested (if i was based in India, i'd be happy
> > > to join an awareness protest in Mumbai :)):
> > > Jvalant Sampat:
> > > "I am in Bombay and wanted to join in if there is one (awareness
> > > protest). Most people are not too aware of the Burmese situation - the media
> > > is too busy analyzing the Indian World Cup win. Shame, really. Does anyone
> > > want to actually march in Bombay?"
> > > Looking forward to your thoughts/interest.
> > > thanks,
> > > ange
